Tuesday, February 22, 2011

There is a baby (blanket) brewing!

I recently visited my friend who is pregnant.  We discussed the trials and tribulations of having this female reproductive system, and how it can be both a gift and a curse.  She loves her baby dearly, and in doing so, has been instructed to lay in a bed for the remaining few weeks of her pregnancy.  She has had to endure painful shots to help the baby develop, mediocre hospital food, nurses who are sometimes nice, and at other times total airheads, and a roommate whose language is so horrid that I am tempted to throw a dictionary at her.  Oh my gosh!  All these things happened in this past weekend. I don't even want to imagine what happened before. 

I think she deserves a break, and something really nice.  So, I asked her what color she wanted to use for the baby (who is such a cutie, based on the doppler ultrasound).  Purple.  So, my mind started thinking about what was in my stash.

When I got home, I thought Yowza - Whatta Skein.   Miss Babs - "A Day at the Bubblegum Shop" colorway
MissBabs - Yowza Whatta Skein


I immediately casted on for the Mirabilis pattern.  This yarn has almost an identical yardage amount as specified in the pattern. It is superwash, and soooooo soft.  Also, my friend Daniel designed it.  So, what's not to love about it?

Here is the blanket after it got too big for Double Pointed Needles.  I transferred it to a 16" circular.
365.2011.50 - Bubblegum Baby Blanket


When that got too small, I transferred it to a 47" circular.
Bubblegum Mirabilis Day 2

The blanket is currently 25% complete.  As the blankie grows stitch by stitch, the baby grows cell by cell.  Hang on little one.  You will be here soon, and the blanket will be ready!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Finished Objects....Woohoo!

I have been busy working on using up stash yarn to complete projects.  Here is a list of my recent accomplishments.

I worked on Boomslang as a gift for my friend Rebecca.  I posted about casting this on before, but was very vague in the description.  You can see her happily wearing it here.  I used Knitpicks Stroll Tonal in Golden and Stroll Solid in Ash, as well as a size 4 needle. 

Rebecca in her Boomslang

Boomslang Doubled

I also completed my first sweater for my 11 sweaters in 2011 project.  I present to you, VAILA! 
Vaila Complete Collar

365.2011.43 - Vaila Complete Front

Vaila Complete Side

I love this sweater.  I finished it just in time for Valentine's Day.  I made it with Malabrigo Worsted in the  Amoroso colorway.  I absolutely love it.  I made a few modifications by making it from the top down, and also adding a column of knitted stitches on the side to make a "seam".  It is warn and squishy, and I really didn't want to take it off. 

I have alse been making some projects from my miles and miles of stash. Here are a few of them.

A Button tab hat for my friend's girlfriend (Birthday Present)
Button Tab Hat #2

A Thermis for me (Still needs buttons)
Thermis - Knitting finished

A Scrunchable Cowl for me.

Scrunchable Cowl Done!

365.2011.37 - Scrunchable Cowl

I also received an exquisitely beautiful LaReine shawl from my knitting buddy Jane as a gift. She actually hand dyed the yarn, and our friend Angela designed the pattern. It is super gorgeous.
365.2011.42 - My New Favorite Shawl

Whew!  Time to get started on LaReine for mommy in a Kumquat colorway!